The Town of Freeport is pleased to announce that in conjunction with The Freeport Creative Arts and in partnership with Freeport Square Gallery, LL Bean, Freeport Community Improvement Association, Berenson Associates and Key Bank that it has received a 2009 Artists in Maine Communities grant from the Maine Arts Commission that has allowed artists to showcase their work throughout the town of Freeport.
 
"Experiencing Freeport # Knowing our Town through Art" showcases artwork, by members of the Freeport Creative Arts, in downtown store windows through the end of the year. The artwork depicts, in some way, the environs or history of Freeport. This effort will highlight area interests and show that Freeport has much to offer outside the retail sector. The artwork focuses on a variety of local interests from the coastline and downtown to Freeport's idyllic cottages and area parks. Information with each piece of artwork will point viewers to area interests and provide enough background to encourage viewers to learn more about the Freeport behind Main Street.
 

"What better place than Freeport, the epicenter in Maine for shopping, to showcase the work of its vital artist community in storefront windows," said Donna McNeil, director of the Maine Arts Commission? "Communities across Maine are taking advantage of this form of Main Street exhibition space with appreciative response from the public. Artist intervention in commercial windows enlivens downtowns, inspiring community members, entrepreneurs and developers. Like viewfinders, they give pedestrians and motorists vignettes, places to pause and think. It's a wonderful project in the perfect community and represents the kind of partnership that will help communities catalyze economic revitalization."
 
Beyond Main Street, Freeport also has an arts community that is becoming more evident through the efforts of Freeport Creative Arts. This member organization nurtures and supports the sustainability of the arts while offering the community and visitors diverse creative opportunities in Freeport, Pownal and Durham.

Representative David Webster has been a prime force in Maine's recognition of the creative economy movement. "The linkage of the creative economy to Greater Freeport's broader economy is a vital part of our 21st century growth," said Webster, "and this project is one more example of what Greater Freeport is all about. Artists working with the business community and non-profits are creating a quality of place that is transforming the view that Mainers' and visitors' have of Freeport from a place to shop, to a place to stay and experience what Maine has to offer."

During Freeport's long history from masts for the queen's navy and ship building, the Casco Castle Hotel resort days, through shoe factory and the current retail sector, the arts have quietly existed in small studios, at kitchen tables and in back rooms. Artists have supported charities and school efforts. Artists have taught out of their studios. Maine Arts Workshop, a downtown studio on School Street opened six years ago to teach artists of all ages about the arts of Maine # how to make art as well as informing students of the historical context of art in Maine. There have been several small home galleries in the area. Freeport Square Gallery opened a year ago to assist Maine artists to have access to Freeport's Main Street. It joined the craft galleries that have been active in Freeport for years to highlight fine art and crafts from artists all over the state. Other galleries have opened this summer.
 
In applying for this grant the town has gone further in recognizing the importance of the arts in the town. In recognizing the new arts group, the partnership of support for the grant activity is helping to energize the arts even further, as again, the arts serve the community. Town Planner Donna Larson noted in the grant request, "This will help enliven and encourage the art scene in Freeport by literally putting art on the street to be seen." What better way than to recognize and encourage artists than by paying them to make art that will be seen? Among the artists are James Chute, retired lawyer, now a full time practicing artist, Becca Case, illustrator and Master's candidate at Maine College of Art and Will Larkins, the youngest member of the group who applied and painted a scene of the Wolfe Neck mudflats.
 
An artists' reception will take place on Friday, September 4, from 5 -6:30pm at Freeport Village Station. All are welcome to this reception, where there will be food and live entertainment. Some of the artwork will be in the vicinity, while directions to the rest of the featured artwork will be available.
 
FMI: 865-1616